#IslandGovCamp
(alternative twitter hashtag #IsleGC12 ) aims to raise the profile of digital
participation in island communities, including collaborative effort towards the
aspirations set out in the Scottish Government's Digital Charter, and to enable
greater participation by those in Scotland’s island communities in the
digital participation agenda. We also aim to facilitate collaboration amongst themselves
of people within the various island communities of Scotland and elsewhere.

The main
govcamp sessions will take place at Orkney College UHI, on Saturday 26 May 2012
between noon and 5.30pm, and on Sunday 27 May 2012 between 10.00am and 1:00pm.
So far approximately 40 people from Orkney, the rest of Scotland and other parts of the British isles
(as well as one or 2 from further afield, including The Netherlands and Iceland)
have registered to participate
inperson in Kirkwall. About 15 others (from
Orkney and the rest of the world) have registered to participate remotely
over the internet.

Ideas for IslandGovCamp
sessions are being submitted by all of these participants using an online Ideascale community: those
wishing to to participate in IslandGovCamp are encouraged to have a look at the site, suggest their own
ideas, and comment and vote on the ideas of others. This is how the agenda for
IslandGovCamp will come into being.

In summary, some of the main themes for IslandGovCamp to emerge so far include:

digital participation,

e-health, telemedicine and smart care

diversifying the internet economy in Orkney,
other islands and beyond,

citizen-centric digital architecture

archaeology, tourism and heritage,

remote attendance and webcasting of events

In making the arrangements for IslandGovCamp 2012 we are
trying to use lessons learned from the experience and outcomes of previous
similar events (including UKGovCamp
events, ScotGovCamp 2010 and
2011, GovcampScotland 2011, Blue Light Camp 2012, and many
others). We hope to make apply some innovations, including attempting (as far
as is feasible) to ensure that participants attending remotely over the
internet (from Orkney, other Scottish island groups, elsewhere in the British
isles, and from other parts of the world) have as valuable experience and
outcomes as those attending physically in Orkney. It is hoped that
technologies, practices and experiences of IslandGovCamp in providing remote
attendance at events might be picked up by others offering govcamps,
conferences, training and other styles of events, as they begin to offer those
facilities to possible participators across Scotland and elsewhere.

We have
interest in participating in the event (and covering the proceedings and
outcomes) from various local, national, regional and trade media outlets. The
individuals registering to attend and participate in IslandGovCamp (or
otherwise expressing interest or support) are associated with a wide range of
organisations, many of which having undertakings in Scottish island
communities: these include the Northern Constabulary and other blue light
services and their partners, various services within Orkney Islands Council and
other local authorities, HiArts, Highlands and Islands Enterprise Orkney area,
Orkney College and other academic partners within the University of the
Highlands and islands, owners of SMEs in Orkney and other island communities,
Orkney Islands Councillors and other politicians, and NHS Orkney and other
health and social care undertakings. The full list of those registered to
attend can be found on the Eventbrite page. (As is normal at govcamps, no-one
on the list should be assumed to be formally representing any organisation, or
participating for any reason other than for personal and professional
development, unless they expressely indicate that they are doing so.)

Among
those expected to be represented in person are Bureau Walburg (seeking potential
partners for a possible future EU/Interreg North Sea Region project on the
theme of smartC4RE), Northern
Constabulary, Orkney Library and
Archive (shortlisted recently with 4 or 5 others for The Bookseller Best UK
Library service award), Orkney
Islands Council Marine Services (interested in the marketing of their
services including services to cruise liners and tallships), young people’s
services in Orkney (to consider how further to use digital technology to
develop the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme in Orkney), and NHS Orkney (to consider issues around
the use of social media, and of digital technology recently provided to non-executive
directors and senior managers).

2. Places
on the Friday Tour of the Orkney Mainland by Public Transport MUST be booked in advance, as numbers are
limited, at http://islandgovcamp2012.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Orkney-mainland-tour-by-public-transport/114592-18709
. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis, with the timestamp
on votes for the idea in Ideascale being used to determine the order of
allocation of places.

3.
GovCamps grew out of the bar camp movement, and take the form of self-organised
unconferences.

4.
Pictures, photo opportunities and interviews with participants can be provided
(before, during or after the event) if required, please use the contact details
below.

Contact:

For enquiries
relating to IslandGovCamp or the OrkneyICTForum, please contact: